Cheat Sheets

In English, you use the articles the and a or an without caring whether a singular or plural noun comes after it. However, with Spanish articles, you point out whether you're referring to one or several[more…]

Proper manners are important wherever you go, whether the people there speak Spanish, English, or Swahili. In polite society, when you ask for something instead of giving a direct order. You don’t say,[more…]

Spanish verbs fall into different groups, and each group is conjugated a little differently. If you’re going to master Spanish verbs like probar, you need to be able to identify which group a verb belongs[more…]

You use the present perfect verb tense in Spanish to express or describe actions that have happened recently and/or actions that still hold true in the present. The present perfect tense is one of seven[more…]

The Spanish verb estar(ehs-tahr), which means to be (in a temporary state), has a special relationship with the question ¿dónde?(dohn-deh), which asks where. This relationship exists because looking for[more…]

Fútbol (foot-bvohl), el béisbol (ehlbvehees-bvohl)(baseball), tennis, swimming, and cycling are all popular sports in Latin America. A little Spanish vocabulary can help you discuss these sports and games[more…]

Although each Spanish-speaking country has its own form of currency, some words and phrases about money are the same, no matter where you travel. Here are a few Spanish words and phrases that you can take[more…]

Although answering yes in Spanish is pretty straightforward, answering no can be another story, complete with double negatives and a host of new negative words. The following sections break down the[more…]

Maybe you would better understand Spanish verb tenses today if you had paid more attention in your high school Spanish classes. Would . . . that’s what the conditional tense is all about. If the conditions[more…]

Tener is an extremely versatile Spanish verb. It works by itself the way other verbs do, but it also forms special verb structures to express age or a desire or obligation to take action. In short, you[more…]

The question of when to use certain Spanish adjectives and Spanish adverbs can lead to some tricky situations. So just how can you know when to use an adverb versus an adjective? By knowing what to watch[more…]

Spanish verbs fall into different groups, and each group is conjugated a little differently. If you’re going to master Spanish verbs like ir, you need to be able to identify which group a verb belongs[more…]

Dropping demonstrative adjectives into your Spanish vocabulary will help you express exactly what or whom you’re seeking. But first, you need to understand what demonstrative adjectives stand for and how[more…]

Some people say that the sauces truly make Mexican dinners special. Choosing an entre is much easier when you know what the Spanish names of the various sauces mean and how various sauces on a restaurant[more…]

When German speakers pick up das Telefon(dâs tê-le-fohn) (phone), they usually answer the call by stating their last name — particularly when they are at their office. If you call somebody at home, you[more…]

Certain Spanish words allow you to describe where people or things are in relation to other people and things. Expressing these spatial directions in Spanish — and thus creating more accurate and engaging[more…]

In Latin America, the family is the basic unit of Spanish society. People work, live, and function in consonance with their families. When visiting your Spanish-speaking neighbors, you’ll be more comfortable[more…]

The famous five Ws (who, what, when, where, why) are all considered interrogative pronouns because they’re pronouns used to ask a question. Their Spanish equivalents may not have a cute mnemonic device[more…]

When you need to know how, when, where, or why, you turn to a special set of question words called interrogative adverbs. This is true both in Spanish and in English. Your interrogative adverb choices[more…]